Who do you hand your keys to ??

[Bo knows]

I replied to another post with this. Thought it might be helpful to others. A lot of posts that involve problems with a Viper always seem to start out with something like " I had one of my guys take the Viper .... " or " I left my car with the valet parking guy ...." or " I dropped my car off at the dealership and when I went back to get it .... " Hey guys, WAKE UP !! These are fantasy cars, not Rent A Wrecks that you can let anyone drive. Anyone who gets the chance to drive one is going to want to see how it goes. I let my best friend drive the car when I was in it, he floored it, I let my brother drive the car when I was in it, he floored it. Can you imagine what happens to our cars when we're not in them ??? I wouldn't let the Pope take my car out for a ride !! Fat chance of a valet parking lot attendant or other getting my keys. If you want to keep your Viper safe and in one piece don't trust it to anyone ! If it needs to go somewhere take it yourself and stay with it. If it needs to go inside a garage you drive it in and take your keys. When it's done you move it out. At valet parking you park it and take your keys. If it needs to be moved have them come in and get you. All this is a small price to pay to keep your Viper in one piece!! I don't mean to sound cruel but all you guys who have had your Vipers damaged after you gave your keys to someone else and left it in their care won't get any sympathy from me!! I know some of you guys here make a lot more money than me and perhaps you really don't care about your car that much, but I'm just a poor slob who works 5 days a week from 7 to 5 and a part time job also to be able to afford the car. Perhaps I treasure mine a little more than some of you. I hope I haven't offended anyone here, just putting in my hard earned 2 cents for whatever its worth !!

Bo knows

others.

 

[Donzi]

I agree 100%
No one else has ever driven this one.

My wife drove my first GTS before I ever did. When I drove it for the first time a few minutes later I thought to my self She's never driving this again!!

My brother has raced in 8 Indy 500'S and he has still not driven mine.
Only cause he's a wild man and I dont want him to. I am sure he is over qualified to drive it

 

[Magicboy2]

-Wife
-Dad

That's about it.

NEVER a valet or attendant.

 

[DR VIPER]

If you want,call me possesive that way but no one gets the keys to the car.Wife can have the keys if she wants to but she doesn't drive the standard so she is quite happy as a passenger!

 

[ROCKET62]

Only hand my keys to three people - Me, Myself, & I.

 

[NOTTDADZ]

My Dad (former race car driver) and that's it! No valet.

 

[tim721]

i've let numerous friends & family take it out for a rip

i've been in the car with them almost always

really makes their day

 

[LIVIPER]

Chuck Tator and that's it!

No valet.

 

[Peter-RedGTS'98]

Well, … once I allowed my best friend to drive my Viper for a few miles. Right after 15sec of driving he went crazy. I had to scream at him loud to look at the road, stop waving his hands, and shut his mouth. He apologized later and told me to lock the keys from everybody. He said the car had a completely different influence on him when you compare with his experience as a passenger.
After that I become very possessive.

 

[XS TORQ]

It's just a car. I have let many of my friends drive it (assuming they are familiar with cars that have torque!)

 

[NY VIPER]

NO ONE but me and my mechanic! I may be "cutting off my nose to spite my face", but I even take the train into NYC just so I don't have to give my car to a valet. They pack those cars so tight in NYC parking garages that I just know I will have doors slamming into my Viper not to mention the way these car jockeys drive around the bends with tires screetching & concrete supports in the way. The train is a lot faster too, but that's another issue. If anyone knows of a Parking lot in NYC that is Viper (or Hummer) friendly let me know.

 

[Viperguynick]

Although the Viper does have an amazing influence on you when you are behind the wheel of one after being a passenger, I have found in my experience that I was content just motoring around. I have had 3 NEVCA members let me drive their beasts, Dave Dugal (97 GTS), Jeff Torrey (92 Rt/10), and Phil Galinais (96 Rt/10). Sure it would have been great to floor it and go screaming down the road as fast as possible, but I respect other peoples things. I knew that if I damaged this vehicle, I would have to pay for it. It was reward enough just to be able to row through the gears of my dream automobile on these 3 occasions. I look forward to more seat time, hopefully in my own someday. And until I have my name on the title, I will not drive any differently than I do my Grand Prix, unless instructed to do so by the owner.

-Nick-

 

[STUGOTS]

My dad
My uncle
and my cousin

I did let a friend drive it on the second day it had it and BAMM the worst curb rash I ever saw and I have yet to fix it (AKA get new rims)

 

[LIVIPER]

the worst curb rash I ever saw and I have yet to fix it (AKA get new rims)

There is a company that can fix any curb rash for $100 to 150 per wheel. PM me if you need the website.

 

[Topawam]

None of my friends decided to take the wheel after the ride as passenger. Too much at risk. I appreciate their wisdom.

 

[Firecat F7 Viper]

Wife took it for a ride around the block a week after I bought it without me knowing it. I heard it start up and by the time I got out of the house, she was out of the driveway. My underwear turned brown. She only went around the block and it was actually quite cool to be able to see what your car looks like when it is coming down your street. She drives a stick well and is a super slow driver, so I wasn't too worried but I do hide the keys now.
I also let my 20 year old nephew drive it once with me in it. This is his dream car and the look on his face when I handed him the keys was priceless. After a few miles he couldn't resist and punched it doing 90mph in a 40mph zone.
I think that was his first and last drive from me.
I also let my brother drive with me in it and he decided to see how well it cornered and went to fast around a curve with a nice dip in it and of course scraped the front fascia. First and last drive for him too.
I now am the only one who drives it anymore.
Wouldn't dream of letting a valet park it.....Does Ferris Bueler(spelling) ring a bell?!!

 

[IEATVETS]

I will give somebody else the keys to my car when they buy it!( of course I am not selling) I had a radio put in at a local radio shop here in town and I DID NOT hand over the keys. I told them that I was driving the car into the install dept, nobody else. Looked at me weird but they got over it.

 

[Steve Miehe]

Handed my keys to my mechanic (three brothers run this shop in suburb of Cincinnati) and asked them to change the clutch and brake fluid today. It was time due to the hygroscopic nature of the fluids. I still stand and watch the operation and as they drive down to the end of the street and back to be sure all is well. If you knew these guys as I do, you would likely allow them to work on your car too. Took about 90 minutes.